Richard L. Graham's Book Talk

On Wednesday, April 11, Richard L. Graham discussed his book, Government Issue: Comics for the People, 1940s-2000s, at Francie & Finch Bookstore. The talk was intimate and conversational. This allowed those in attendance to freely ask questions in regards to Graham’s book and other questions relating to the role that comics have played in the last half century.

Graham primarily discussed the use of comics by the United States government, and the ways in which they have often functioned as a type of propaganda. The use of the comic strip medium allows for messages to be quickly and easily interpreted. Graham discussed the importance of each comic panel, and the artistic and literary choices that are made by the artist to depict a certain message. The comic artist/writer must wisely use color and artistry, and make literary choices, to effectively depict a message that is discernible. When these things are not carefully taken into account, the comic ultimately fails, and the message is lost. For example, Graham discussed a brief moment in the history of the United States in which the government had teenagers draw their comics. However, this was short lived, and was ultimately unsuccessful as these teenage comic artists were not taking into consideration the importance of the rhetorical messages of their comic art.

From Graham’s talk I learned a significant amount about the role that comics have played in the United States military and the general population of the United States during, and since World War II. Many of these comics, produced by the United States government, have often been incredibly cringe worthy, discriminatory, and sexist. For example, one comic strip, produced during World War II, informed the American populace how to discern someone of Japanese decent from someone of a differing East Asian ancestry. The comic was titled “How to spot a Jap!” More recently a comic was issued to incoming military recruits, and informed the new enlistees of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” United States military policy. As you can imagine this comic was incredibly unpopular and unsuccessful, which was why it was only briefly used.

Graham’s discussion of his book, Government Issue: Comics for the People, 1940s-2000s, was incredibly enjoyable, and often comical at times. Prior to his book talk I was relatively unaware of the significant role that comics have played in the United States military and as a tool of propaganda. By attending his book talk, I also discovered a neat little bookshop in down town Lincoln, Francie & Finch Book Shop.